Marine drilling method and means



M. B. WILLEY ETAL MARINE DRILLING METHOD AND MEANS July 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 5, 1947 M. B. WILLI-:Y ET AL 2,515.540

MARINE DRILLING METHOD AND MEANS July 18, 1950 Filed May 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 hu) @mtl m @van s *"1 N Mamey-. Wi//e W .Q o n q Roger W Wilson'y July 18, 1950 M. B. WILLEY ET AL MARINE DRILLING METHOD AND MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1947 July 18, 1950 M. B wlLLEY E-rAL 2,515,540

MARINE DRILLING METHOD AND MEANS Filed May 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g3 i.; @Fw m) n) 24 65 .ou Sf42 60 423 44 foL c 5 o/ 22 H E 5/ f7 'lll i 5'2"" g 55 i L8 \\17J l 5, r\

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gvwc/nM/b Marney B. W/Y/ey Roger W Wilson WMM@ Patented July 18, 1950 MARINE DBILLING METHOD AND MEANS Mame! B. -Willey and Roger W. Orleans, La., assignors to J. Ray

Wilson, New McDermott &

o., Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation oi' Dela- Ware Application May 5, 1947, Serial No. 746,134

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in marine drilling methods and means.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved marine method wherein the drilling equipment is mounted upon a buoyant support of suflicient size and shape as to make the whole completely stable when being towed and while being submerged. A

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved marine drilling method wherein the drilling equipment is mounted upon a buoyant support and :floated to a desired location, the support then being partially submerged and anchored to piling driven therethrough whereby the load imposed upon said support is proportioned between the piling and support.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved marine drilling method, of the character described, wherein the support is adapted to receive and maintain the piling in position for driving during iloating and submerging of said support, the weight of said piling being utilized to initially embed the same, whereby the piling may be quickly driven to secure the support in :a iixed position when the latter is submerged.

A further object o1' the invention is to provide an improved drilling method, of the character described, wherein the buoyant support is submerged to any desired depth below the surface of the water and projects above the water level so as to reinforce the piling and provide a foundation for a stable platform above the crest of the waves.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved drilling method, of the character described, wherein the submerged support has sumcient buoyancy to carry the dead weight of said support and all or any portion of the maximum nuctuating load imposed thereupon and whereby the piling supports none or anv de- 18 Claims. (CL 61-46) equipment is mounted so as to be disposed above the level of a body of water when the support is submerged to a desired depth below said water level.

.a still further object of the invention is to provide an improved buoyant submersible support, of the character described, which is of substantialiy U-shape so as to provide a drilling slot ior receiving an auxiliary producing foundation member and thereby permit removal of the support by reoating of the same upon completion of the well or wells Without interfering with the auxiliary foundation.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features oi the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a support constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the auxiliary foundation member,

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the submerged support to the foundation member,

Fig. i is a side elevational view of merged support,

Fig. 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the construction of the support,

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the pilings and its relation to the support, and

Fig. 7 is a detailed view, showing one of the the subpump and valve arrangements for ooding and sired portion of the greatest possible iiuctuating Y load.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved marine foundation means having a submersible buoyant support adapted to receive and be secured to driven piling whereby the support is held in a iixed position bv the piling and said piling is reinforced by said sunport and whereby the load imposed on the latter is divided between said piling and support.

An important object oi' the invention is to ernvide an improved marine drilling support, of the' character described, which includes a superstructure and a platform upon which drilling unloading the buoyant compartments of the support. v

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a marine support or foundation adapted for offshore use in drilling oil wells and for other marine installations. The support l0 is illustrated as being substantially rectangular in shape and includes buoyant hollow chambers or iioats I l. a superstructure i2 and a platform I3. A drilling rig i4 is mounted upon the platform i3 and includes a derrick l5, a derrick substructure i6, engine substructures l1 and i8, drawworks substructures i9 and 29 and a pipe rack 2|. The actual drilling equipment, such as the rotary table, drawworks, engines, tanks and pumps have not been shown; however, the platform is of sumcient area to accommodate such equipment or additional supports may be provided for the same. A plurality of beams 22 extend longitudinally of the platform which preferably projects beyond the ends of the support (Fig. 4). The major portion of the platform is covered by a suitable deck or floor 23 secured to the longitudinal beams 22 by overlying. transverse joists or beams 24 and nail strips 25 (Figs. 1 and 6) while the portion of the platform occupied by the pipe rack 2| and the substructures is preferably unfloored and suitable transverse rollers 26 slidably support said pipe rack and substructures upon the beam 22. As will be hereinafter more fully explained, the pipe rack and substructures are adaptedv to be moved longitudinally of the support and its platform and, although not illustrated, the flooring may be removed and replaced upon such movement to provide safer working conditions.

The chambers Il are preferably constructed in the form of a pair of barges 21 and 28 which are connected by suitable trusses 29 in parallel relation so as to extend longitudinally of the support, as is most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Transverse and longitudinal partitions or bulkheads 30 and 3| divide each barge into a plurality of compartments 32 which are adapted to be filled or partially filled with Water for varying the buoyancy of the barges. It is pointed out that the trusses 29 are preferably alined with the transverse bulkheads 38 of the barges and preferably terminate short of one end of the support to provide a drilling slot 33 beneath the substructures of the drilling rig. whereby the derrick l and its substructure I6 straddle the drilling slot (Fig. l). As will be hereinafter more fully explained, an auxiliary support or foundation member 34 is adapted to be positioned within the drilling slot 33.

The flooding and dewatering or unloading of the compartments 32 is preferably controlled individually by means of suitable pumps 35 and valves 36 and 31 mounted in said compartments in any suitable manner. A desirable arrangement is shown in Fig. 7. wherein the pump 35 is connected to a pipe or conduit 38 extending through the side wall or hull of the barge and having the valve 36 mounted therein. The valve 31 is connected in a similar pipe or conduit 39 which also extends through the barge hull for controlling the flooding of each compartment. Communication between the chamber and the pump is established by an intake or suction pipe 40, upon the end of which and the ends of the pipes 38 and 39, suitable strainers 4I are mounted. By opening the valve 31 water from outside the hull will flow into the compartment 32 and, when sufficiently ooded, further flow of the water can be stopped by closing said valve. Upon opening valve 36, operation of the pump 35 will dewater or withdraw water from the cornpartment through the pipe 40 and discharge the same through the pipe 38. If desired, the flooding and dewatering of the various compartments may be accomplished by the use of compressed air jets, rather than pumps, using similar pipe connections.

Access to each compartment 32 is had through acylindrieal flume or wing tower 42, of relatively large diameter, which has its lower end communicating with said compartment and welded or otherwise secured to the top or upper wall thereof. The towers 42 form a part of the superstructure |2 and may have their upper ends secured to the beams 22 for supporting the same. A suitable electrical motor or other prime mover 43 is supported within each tower adjacent its upper end by a suitable spider 44 and is drivingly connected to the pump 35 by an elongated drive shaft 45. One or more spiders 46 are disposed within the tower for supporting and centering the shaft 45. The valves 36 and 31 are operated from the` upper end of the tower by means of elongatedcontrol stems or rods 41 and 48 which project upwardly through said tower and have hand wheels 48 and 50 mounted on their upper ends. It is pointed out that each tower is of sumcient cross-sectional area to permit access to the interior of the compartments in the event it is necessary to replace or repair the pump and valves.

These wing towers materially increase the effective volume of their respective compartments and are of extreme importance in the submerging of the barges 21 and 28 by providing suiiicient buoyancy through their large displacement to preserve stability at the critical point when the decks of the barges are first awash.

The superstructure I2 includes a plurality of cylindrical, hollow uprights or casings 5| which have their lower portions extending through and secured to the top and bottom walls of the barges 21 and 28. As shown in Fig. 6, the lower extremity of each casing 5| preferably terminates flush with the bottom of the barge. Transverse and longitudinal trusses 52 and 53 connect the upper portions of the casings 5| which have their upper endsterminating adjacent the beams 22, the latter resting upon the transverse trusses 52 (Figs. 4 and 5). It is pointed out that the casings are reinforced throughout their lengths between the barges and trusses by suitable cross braces 54 (Fig. 3) which may be connected to said barges and trusses as well as to said casings; however, the trusses and the cross braces as well as the beams 22 do not extend across the drilling slot 33. The trusses 52 and 53 are connected to the casings and are supported by radial flanges 55 which are secured to said casings. A similar radial flange 56 is welded, or otherwise secured, to the upper end of each casing, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 6. It is noted that the casings are of considerable length, which length is suflicient to dispose the platform I3 a safe distance above the water level A when the barges 21 and 28 are submerged to a depth adjacent the marine floor or bed B. Although subject to variation, this length should be approximately 50 feet so as to permit use of the supports in a body of water having a depth of from 15 to 75 feet. The casings are of sufficient diameter to receive piling 51 which are preferably formed of pipe.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 6, each piling 51 is of such length as to extend from the upper end of its respective casing 5|, throughout the length of said casing and into the marine floor B sufficiently to engage a relatively firm earth formation. Ordinarily, this penetration will be from 4.0 to 60 feet with the result that it will be necessary to form each piling of several pipe sections which are preferably welded together. It is pointed out that the casings function as guides for the driving of the piling and that this driving from above the support is permitted by cutting suitable openings 58 in the deck 23. After driving each piling, the upper end thereof is cut off a slight distance above the upper flange 5E of the casing and a blind flange or plate 59 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper end portion of the deck ot said piling in vertical alinement with the cas.

ing flange. Suitable studs III and nuts II fasten the anges Il and Il, whereby each casingis positively connected to its piling. Due to this arrangement, the piling coacts with the support III in sustaining loads imposed upon said support. Manifestly, a considerable portion oi' the load is sustained by the buoyancy of the support so that the piling does not carry the entire load. If desii-ed, the lower end of each piling may be pointed as shown by the numeral to facilitate driving ci the same.

The auxiliary support at is oi substantially rectangular shape and may have a nat decir or platform @il at its upper end with a drilling slot formed therein (Fig. 2i. For supporting the decir piling is driven through individual vertical, cylindrical memers or pipes oi? an auxiliary foundation member or trarne di. As shown ltig. 3 the pipes t@ are reinforced and eonnected by suitable cross-braces and beams G9 are secured to the driven pilings 65 for supporting the deck 63. This auxiliary piling is driven in the marine floor B substantially the same depth as the piling 51 and the lower portion of the pipes 66 may be embedded a slight distance in said floor. To facilitate installation of the auxiliary support and driving of its piling, the intermediate portion 1I! ofthe pipe rack 2| is removable. It is noted that it is preferable to position the auxiliary support 34 after the anchoring of the support I0.

Due to the provision of the casings ing may be driven by a pile drive (not shown) mounted upon the platform I3. Thus, adverse weather conditions, such as rough water, do not prevent the driving of the piling as it would in the case of the usual pile driver mounted upon a barge. The support is adapted to be constructed on shore and oated to the desired locaon. Ashas been pointed out, the buoyant chambers II may be formed by connecting a pair of barges 21 and 28 in parallel relation by means of trusses 29 to provide a substantially U-shaped construction. The compartments 32 are formed in each barge by the transverse and longitudinal bulkheads or partitions 30 and 3i and the wing 5I,the piltowers H2 are mounted upon said barges to provide stability during submergence. The superstructure I2 is mounted upon and connected to the barges and the platform I3 is supported upon said superstructure. It is also desirable to mount the derrick, substructures and other portions of the drilling rig upon the platform. The major 23 is fastened in position and the openings 58 are cut therein for permitting access to the casings 5i. The piling 51 is supported within the casings so as to be capable of being immediately dropped into engagement with the marine floor B when the desired location is reached.

In order to lower the support at the desired location, the barges 21 and 28 are partially submerged by admitting water to all or certain of the compartments 32. The valves 36 are closed and the valves 31 are opened so as to establish communication through the pipes 39, whereby water may iiow into the compartments to decrease the buoyancy of the same. Although subject to variation, the barges are submerged to any desired depth below the surface of the water and above the marine noor B, where the lateral force of waves will be so small as to be readily withstood by the strength of the pluralityof piling 51. After submergingi to this desired level, the piling' is than dropped through the casings II so as to engage the marine yfloor and are then driven to the desired depth. Under adverse weather conditions, it is desirable to drive certain of the piling at spaced points and to secure the same to their respective casings. After driving the piling and attaching the same to their respective casings, the buoyancy of the barges is adjusted in accordance with the weight imposed upon the platform I3. The latter is positioned above the crest of the larger waves when the support is anchored in position.

lin order to sustain all of the dead weight of the support and a portion of the fluctuating load, consisting oi liresh water, mud, chemicals, fuel oil. pipe, tools, bits etc., the compartments 32 are dewatered by opening the valves 36. Upon operation or the motors dt, the pumps 35 'eject water from the compartments through the pipes 38. When the barges have the desired buoyancy, operation of the pump is halted and the valves are turned so as to shut-oil' ilow through the pipe 3B. From time to time, it will be necessary to vary the buoyancy of the barges by admitting water to or forcing water from the compartments of the same in accordance with the iluctuation of the loads carried by the support or to compensate for shifting of a portion of the load from place to place upon the platform. This would usually be necessary when the derrick I5 and the superstructures were slid longitudinally of the beams 22. When only a small load is carried by the support 'in addition to its dead weight, the piling acts in tension to hold or maintain said support submerged. Therefore, it is only necessary for the piling to assume a portion of the total fluctuating load, whereby the fully loaded piling is under low compression. Due to this arrangement, the possibility o! overloading the piling is eliminated.

With the support 'in position, the auxiliary support 3l is disposed within the drilling slot 33 of said support. As has been explained, the intermediate section 1li of the pipe rack 2i is removed to facilitate installation of the auxiliary support. The frame 61 is first lowered into place and then the auxiliary piling 65 is driven through the pipes 66 of said frame. Upon being driven to the desired depth, the upper ends of the piling 65 are cut oi and beams 69 are secured thereto for receiving the auxiliary deck B3. It is noted that the latter deck is disposed a considerable distance below the platform I3 so as to provide a working space or cellar 1I for the derrick. Due to this space, the derrick and substructures may be moved longitudinally of the beams 22 without interfering with well connections supported upon the auxiliary deck. The drilling slot 64 is of suiiicient length to permit the drilling of a number of Wells and is positioned so as to have its longitudinal axis in vertical alinement with the derrick at all times.

Upon completion of a well or wells, the support I0 may be refloated by completely or partially dewatering the barge compartments and withdrawing the piling or cutting oi the same below said support. Due to the provision of the auxiliary support, the support I may be completely removed without disturbing the well connections. Additional supports, similar to the auxiliary support, may be positioned adjacent said auxiliary support for receiving flow tanks and other equipment necessary for the maintenance of production. The support may then be floated 7 to another location for the drilling of other wells.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of marine drilling which includes, mounting drilling equipment upon a buoyant support, partially submerging the support, driving piling through said partially submerged support, anchoring said support to the piling whereby the weight of the drilling equipment is carried by said piling and support, operating said drilling equipment to drill a well, and floating said support upon completion of the well to permit removal of said equipment.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the buoyancy of the support is varied in accordance with the weight of the drilling equipment whereby a predetermined maximum load is imposed upon the piling.

3. The method of marine drilling which includes, mounting drilling equipment upon a buoyant support having means for receiving piling, partially submerging the support to position the drilling equipment above water level, dropping piling through the support means to anchor said support in a fixed position, driving the piling into the marine floor, securing said support means to said piling, adjusting the buoyancy of said support in accordance with the load imposed thereupon whereby said load is proportioned between said piling and support and the load in excess of a predetermined maximum is carried by the piling, operating the drilling equipment to drill a well, and floating said support upon completion of the well to permit removal of said drilling equipment.

4. The method of marine drilling set forth in claim 3 wherein the support means is utilized to guide the driving of the piling and to reinforce the driven piling.

5. The method of marine drilling which includes, mounting drilling equipment upon a barge having a drilling slot therein, submerging the barge to a depth below excessive wave action, driving piling through openings in said barge into the marine floor, securing said barge to the pilingr whereby the weight of the drilling equipment is borne by the coaction of said pilinr.Y and barge, positioning a foundation member in the drilling slot of said barge, driving piling through the foundation member, securing said member to the piling driven therethrough, operating said drilling equipment to drill a well, utilizing said member as a cellar for supporting the flow connections of the well upon completion thereof. and floating said barge to permit re- -moval of said equipment while leaving said member in position.

6. A marine foundation structure including, a buoyant support, a platform mounted on the support, means varying the buoyancy of said support to permit submerging and floating of thev same, and means secured to said support for receiving piling driven therethrough, the receiving means being connected to the driven piling whereby loads imposed upon the platform are sustained by the coaction of said piling and support.

7. A marine foundation structure as set forth in claim 6 including, means interconnecting the receiving means to reinforce the piling.

8. A marine drilling apparatus including, a buoyant member, a working platform mounted on the member, said member having means to vary its buoyancy for floating and submerging the same, guide means carried by and connected to said member for receiving piling to be driven therethrough, and means for securing the guide means to the piling so that said piling and member coact to sustain loads imposed on the platform.

,-9. A marine drilling apparatus including. a buoyant submersible support, a working platform mounted on the support, guide means carried by said support for receiving piling to be 4driven therethrough, means securing the driven piling to said support whereby said piling and support coact to carry loads imposed upon the platform, and means for varying the buoyancy of the support to permit floating and submerging of the same and to adjust the weight supporting capacity thereof.

10. A marine drilling apparatus including, a buoyant submersible support, a frame carried by the support, a platform mounted on the frame above and in spaced relation to said support so as to be positioned above water level upon submerging of said support, said frame having means for receiving and guiding piling to be driven through the frame, and means for securing the driven piling to said frame so that a portion of the load imposed on the platform is carried by said piling, and means varying the buoyancy of said support for submerging and floating the same and varying the depth of its submergence in accordance with said load.

11. A marine drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the receiving and guiding means includes a plurality of substantially upright cylindrical members extending through the support.

12. A marine drilling apparatus as set forth `in claim 11 including, reinforcing means connecting the members to reinforce the piling. v

13. A marine drilling apparatus including, a frame, a platform mounted on the frame, floats mounted on said frame for supporting the same, said frame having means for receiving and guiding piling to be driven therethrough, means Asecuring the driven piling to said frame, and means for ooding and removing water from the float' to vary the buoyancy of the same and to raise and lower said frame and its platform, whereby said iioats and piling coact to support loads imposed upon the platform.

14. A marine drilling apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the frame has a drilling slot therein, a foundation member positioned within the slot, piling driven through the foundation member for securing the same in a fixed position, and a platform mounted on said member, whereby the latter platform remains in position upon the raising and removing of said frame and its platform.

15. A marine drilling apparatus including, a submersible barge, a frame mounted on the barge, a platform mounted on the frame, means extending through said frame and barge for receiving and guiding piling to be driven therethrough, means securing the driven piling to said frame, and means for flooding the barge and removing the water therefrom to vary the buoyancy thereof and for raising and lowering the same, when.- by said frame and its platform are supported by the coaction of said piling and buoyancy of said barge.

16. A marine drilling apparatus including, submersible connected barges. a frame and wing towers mounted on the barges, a platform mounted upon the frame and wing towers. reinforcing means connecting said frame and barge and wing towers to provide stability to the apparatus, means extending through said frame and barges for receiving and guiding piling to be driven therethrough. means securing the driven piling to said frame so that said piling coacts with the buoyancy of the barges to support all imposed loads and serves to connect the apparatus to the marine bed lwith sumcient strength to hold said apparatus securely in place and resist lateral forces imposed thereupon by wind and wave action.

17. The method of erecting a marine drilling foundation which includes. mounting a super- 18. The method set forth in claim 17 wherein the buoyancy of the support is varied in accordance with the load imposed upon its superstructure whereby a predetermined maximum load is carried by the piling.

MARNEY B. WILLEY. ROGER W. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date MacKnight Aug. 17, 1943 

